On this day in 1941, Pearl Harbor reels from a surprise Japanese attack. Have you ever thought about the Navy nurses present on that day so long ago? Like many others, those nurses were abruptly shoved into war when Japanese planes unexpectedly descended upon the American base.   It was the opposite of the Hawaiian assignment that, until then, had been a cushy one.   “I thought I was living a charmed life,” Lt. Ruth Erickson later said.  She was at the Naval Hospital and woul

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 19 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. They were written under the pseudonym “Publius” and argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. Publius again turns to history to make his point that a formal union of states is needed. So let’s face it. This section of the Federalist series is probably a b

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 18 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. They were written under the pseudonym “Publius” and argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. Publius continues an argument begun in earlier papers: The loose confederation of states under the Articles of Confederation must fail, in the long term. To make

On this day in 1941, the Japanese launch an attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor. You already know the basics of the story, but do you know about the 16 men who received Medals of Honor for their bravery so long ago?   Remember: Those boys woke up that morning thinking that the United States was NOT at war. But they leapt into action when called upon to do so.   USS West Virginia, engulfed in flames Some of the acts were relatively simple ones, like staying

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 17 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. They argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. The ever-prolific Alexander Hamilton (a.k.a. “Publius”) is the author of today’s essay. Yesterday’s paper discussed why the national government should be able to enact legislation directly on citizens. Hamilt

On this day in 1941, civilians and military on the Hawaiian island of Oahu enjoy a beautiful day, blissfully unaware that the United States would soon be at war. Have you ever thought about the military nurses stationed at Pearl Harbor that weekend?   They were about to be put in a unique position, yet they had no way of knowing it.   Indeed, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor early on December 7, it marked the first time in American history that Army nurses were at the

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 16 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. They argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. This paper is written by Alexander Hamilton (a.k.a. “Publius”). In earlier papers, Publius argued that a formal Union among the 13 states was needed. Now he continues to explain why the then-existing informal

On this day in 1783, George Washington says his final goodbye to a group of officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York. New York had served as the British headquarters throughout the long years of the American Revolution. It was the last city to be evacuated when the war was over! On November 25, however, the British finally left , and George Washington entered the city. Despite the celebrations and elaborate dinners that ensued over the course of the next week, the British hadn

On this day in 2012, a dog handler receives a Navy Cross. Sergeant William “Billy” Soutra thought his German Shepherd Posha deserved at least some of the credit, though. “Posha made me the Marine I am today,” he concluded.   Perhaps the Marines agreed? Posha held his own rank: Staff Sergeant.   Posha was a specialized search dog, trained to search for IEDs. Soutra reflected on how important the dog was during their first deployment to Afghanistan.   “We had a productive tour

On this day in 1776, American forces arrive on the banks of the Delaware River. They’d been retreating from the British—yet again! Surely George Washington was beginning to get tired of it all?   If only he and his men could have known that the miraculous victory at Trenton was just around the corner.   Mere weeks before, a few thousand Americans had been trapped and forced to surrender at Fort Washington, close to Manhattan. At the time, Washington was across the river with

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 15 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. They argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. The first 14 papers argued that a Union of the 13 colonies is necessary. This paper begins to explain why the current Union—an informal one, through the Articles of Confederation—is insufficient. Alexander Ha

On this day in 1944, a hero receives a Medal of Honor. Raymond “Wilkie” Wilkins once aced the written entry exam for West Point, but then he failed the physical requirements for that academy because his teeth were slightly crooked!   Undeterred, he enlisted and began his Army career as a private. From there, he was soon learning to fly at the Air Corps Technical School.   “He wanted to be Army; Army with a capital A,” a Portsmouth Star reporter wrote in 1945. “That is the cor

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 14 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. They argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states.” Paper 14 brings the introductory portion of the series to a close. The first 14 papers defended the proposition that the states should join together as one Union. (The alternative was for the states to break

On this day in 1787, an author writing under the pseudonym “Centinel” writes his fourth contribution to the anti-Federalist Papers. These papers argued against the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. An underlying assumption of the pro-Constitution movement was that the then-existing Articles of Confederation (effectively America’s first constitution) were “inadequate to the objects of the union.” Centinel is not so sure about that! He warn

On this day in 1787, an author writing under the pseudonym “Brutus” writes his fourth contribution to the anti-Federalist Papers. These papers argued against the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. “There can be no free government,” Brutus begins, “where the people are not possessed of the power of making the laws by which they are governed . . . .” He thinks that “legislation by representatives” is the “only practicable mode in which the p

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 13 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. They argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. Hamilton has one simple point to make in this paper. Good timing, because it is a holiday weekend. Hamilton notes that a Union will be cheaper to sustain than three or four confederacies: The country will nee

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 12 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. Many of them were reprinted in out-of-state newspapers as well. Later, they were bound into a collection and sold that way. These essays argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. Alexander Hamilton (a.ka. “Publius”) wrote this particular paper. In some wa

At about this time in 1941, the fourth Thursday in November officially becomes a national holiday. You may know about modern Thanksgiving Day celebrations, but did you know that thanksgiving also played an important role in the American Revolution?   Indeed, as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington fully supported public displays of gratitude as a vital part of a well-functioning army.   The events of October 1777 were a case in point. Americans won an

On this day in 1783, the British finally evacuate New York, which had been their headquarters during the American Revolution. Maybe you won’t be surprised to hear that the British took one last stab at insulting Americans before they left? They hoisted the Union Jack up a flagpole and greased the pole. The grease would make it difficult for Americans to switch out the flag for one of their own. A young sailor, John Van Arsdale, was undeterred. He put on some cleats and climbe

On this day in 1787, Federalist Paper No. 11 is published. The Federalist Papers are a collection of essays that were published in New York newspapers in late 1787 and early 1788. They argued FOR the new Constitution, then being considered for ratification by the states. As you can see, creation of a new American republic was no small task. The founding generation took the matter very seriously—so seriously that there was an audience for these numerous papers. Federalist Pape